Jewel of the Seas tips and tricks for a family? First RCL sailing since 2005.

[Jezo]

It's been longer than I even expected since we have been on an RCL sailing, 16+ years since we were last on one of their ships in October of 2005.  Since we have no experience with the mega-ships we aren't worried about missing out on anything on this smaller ship and have actually preferred smaller over larger when we have been on other cruise lines.

 

So from embarkation day to leaving, what are some tips and tricks people have for our cruise?  We'll be a family with an elementary aged child sailing during spring break week with a balcony cabin.  We expect it to be chaotic so are prepared for families and kids everywhere.  We have been on many cruises so we aren't new to the whole scene, just haven't been on RCL since 2005 so not sure how things work anymore or what to expect. 

[livingonthebeach]

If you want a paper version of the Cruise Compass ask your room steward the first day and he / she will deliver it daily. The internet is spotty at best so beware if you need it for work. If you don’t like smoke, stay out of the casino. 

[Sunshine3601]

If you dont already have you will want to download the Royal Caribbean app to your cell phone.

You will be able to the muster drill from the app once you board the ship.

Once onboard check out entertainment and book whatever you may want, especially if ship will be busy.

The app has also an option to purchase messaging for family to stay in touch while onboard.  I think it is $1.99 I'm not sure if that is per person.

After we board we like to go the main dining room to see where we will be seated and adjust if you want a different location.

You have the option of traditional dining time for same every night....either 530 pm or 8 pm.  Or you may select my time dining and reserve different times for different nights depending on port schedules, entertainment, etc.

There is a small indoor movie theater onboard and most nights a movie will be shown once or twice a night at outdoor pool deck.

This is our favorite size ship too.   Her sister ship Serenade is also a favorite!

[livingonthebeach]

I believe the OP stated they would be sailing Jewel of the Seas. On Jewel, you can not book entertainment venues.

[Jezo]

20 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

 

After we board we like to go the main dining room to see where we will be seated and adjust if you want a different location.

You have the option of traditional dining time for same every night....either 530 pm or 8 pm.  Or you may select my time dining and reserve different times for different nights depending on port schedules, entertainment, etc.

 

 

Can you say a little more about this one?  We have done Norwegian for the past decade so this concept doesn't exist to me anymore.  For the main dining hall is it the same seat every night or how does that work?  We didn't pick a dinner time, we did whatever that third option is that sounded more like you choose each day.  Do you need to reserve a time each day or do you just show up?  If you don't want to go to the dining room are there other non-upcharge options to have dinner more spur of the moment?

[Sunshine3601]

3 minutes ago, Jezo said:

 

Can you say a little more about this one?  We have done Norwegian for the past decade so this concept doesn't exist to me anymore.  For the main dining hall is it the same seat every night or how does that work?  We didn't pick a dinner time, we did whatever that third option is that sounded more like you choose each day.  Do you need to reserve a time each day or do you just show up?  If you don't want to go to the dining room are there other non-upcharge options to have dinner more spur of the moment?

If you go with traditional or my time dining where you reserve your time then you usually are seated at same table with same waitstaff.  This way you can walk right to your assigned table without waiting for someone to seat you.  The waiter then gets to know what your family likes and dislikes are and sometime bring out surprises for the family try.

Or you can show up whenever you want but expect there to be a line or possible wait time for a table depending on capacity on your sailing.

Yes, you can to Windjammer for breakfast lunch and dinner which is royals buffet with plenty of options.

There is also Parks Cafe that offers breakfast options such as cereals and small selection of breakfast items. At lunch they will have salad bar with sandwich/Panini and soup options.   I dont believe they have any dinner options but they reopen for late night snacks such as pizza and nachos.

If you like hot roast beef sandwiches parks cafe is where you will find their famous kummelweck sandwich, which is delicious.

No shortage of food options that is included with your cruise fare.

If you look at the royal app on your phone it will list menus and hours for various restaurants.  

At rear of windjammer is a nice outdoor area to eat, we usually go there instead of eating inside.

[Jezo]

My Time Dining, okay that is the one we picked.  Okay so with that we can use the app to pick a dinner time each day based on what we are doing?  Do you make reservations the day of or can I look and make them days in advance?

 

When sitting for this style seating in the main dining doom, do they sit you with other families like I remember from way back when or do you have your own table?

[Biker19]

52 minutes ago, Jezo said:

Okay so with that we can use the app to pick a dinner time each day based on what we are doing?

 

  Do you make reservations the day of or can I look and make them days in advance?

 

When sitting for this style seating in the main dining doom, do they sit you with other families like I remember from way back when or do you have your own table?

Yes.

Either way, but like on land, the longer you wait, the fewer the time slot choices.

 

In the COVID era, unlikely, but anything is possible.

[reallyitsmema]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

If you go with traditional or my time dining where you reserve your time then you usually are seated at same table with same waitstaff.  This way you can walk right to your assigned table without waiting for someone to seat you.  The waiter then gets to know what your family likes and dislikes are and sometime bring out surprises for the family try.

Or you can show up whenever you want but expect there to be a line or possible wait time for a table depending on capacity on your sailing.

Yes, you can to Windjammer for breakfast lunch and dinner which is royals buffet with plenty of options.

There is also Parks Cafe that offers breakfast options such as cereals and small selection of breakfast items. At lunch they will have salad bar with sandwich/Panini and soup options.   I dont believe they have any dinner options but they reopen for late night snacks such as pizza and nachos.

If you like hot roast beef sandwiches parks cafe is where you will find their famous kummelweck sandwich, which is delicious.

No shortage of food options that is included with your cruise fare.

If you look at the royal app on your phone it will list menus and hours for various restaurants.  

At rear of windjammer is a nice outdoor area to eat, we usually go there instead of eating inside.

 

When did they add Park Cafe to Jewel?  I thought Jewel was the only Radiance class ship without Park Cafe.  I know it wasn't there the two times we sailed Jewel.

[njkruzer]

There's also food served in the Solarium.  While the Solarium is 16 and up i seem to think everyone can enter to get food.  Opening times listed in Compass.  Oh yeah, maybe no Compass.   Look on the app.

 

Also Cafe Latte-tudes has snacks.  Only fancy coffees have a charge.

Edited March 2, 2022 by njkruzer

[livingonthebeach]

8 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

When did they add Park Cafe to Jewel?  I thought Jewel was the only Radiance class ship without Park Cafe.  I know it wasn't there the two times we sailed Jewel.

Jewel does not have a Park Cafe - sailed her last week.

[Sunshine3601]

4 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

When did they add Park Cafe to Jewel?  I thought Jewel was the only Radiance class ship without Park Cafe.  I know it wasn't there the two times we sailed Jewel.

You are right,  it has been over 2 years since I sailed on jewel and forgot she doesn't have Park Cafe.    I think there is food served in the Solarium, but maybe my memory has failed me.

[njkruzer]

29 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You are right,  it has been over 2 years since I sailed on jewel and forgot she doesn't have Park Cafe.    I think there is food served in the Solarium, but maybe my memory has failed me.

Yes.  It's there.  Hours listed in the app.

[Jezo]

So since there is no Park Cafe and I have lost my chance at the roast beef, all Windjammers all the time then?

[njkruzer]

3 minutes ago, Jezo said:

So since there is no Park Cafe and I have lost my chance at the roast beef, all Windjammers all the time then?

No.  If I recall Solarium might have had roast beef sandwich.   I know I ate it when we sailed on her in December.   If you look at the app it will tell you when the Solarium cafe is open. 

[livingonthebeach]

5 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You are right,  it has been over 2 years since I sailed on jewel and forgot she doesn't have Park Cafe.    I think there is food served in the Solarium, but maybe my memory has failed me.

 

Correct -- there is a Solarium Cafe. I went there for breakfast last week. Don't remember the hours for lunch and beyond. 

[reallyitsmema]

3 minutes ago, njkruzer said:

No.  If I recall Solarium might have had roast beef sandwich.   I know I ate it when we sailed on her in December.   If you look at the app it will tell you when the Solarium cafe is open. 

 

3 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Correct -- there is a Solarium Cafe. I went there for breakfast last week. Don't remember the hours for lunch and beyond. 

 

I looked at it in the app and the deck plans show it as Solarium Cafe but when you go to dining, it showed it as Solarium Bistro.  The earliest opening I saw was for "lunch" starting at 10am.  Solarium Bistro is very different than Solarium Cafe, no menu was listed though.

[njkruzer]

6 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

 

I looked at it in the app and the deck plans show it as Solarium Cafe but when you go to dining, it showed it as Solarium Bistro.  The earliest opening I saw was for "lunch" starting at 10am.  Solarium Bistro is very different than Solarium Cafe, no menu was listed though.

Yes, 4 times, and closes at 1 am.  There's usually snacks, desserts,  pizza, sandwiches,  etc depending on the time of day.

[livingonthebeach]

3 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

 

I looked at it in the app and the deck plans show it as Solarium Cafe but when you go to dining, it showed it as Solarium Bistro.  The earliest opening I saw was for "lunch" starting at 10am.  Solarium Bistro is very different than Solarium Cafe, no menu was listed though.

 

The signage last week when I was there definitely said Solarium Cafe and not Solarium Bistro. It's got very limited offerings -- not like the Solarium Bistro on Oasis Class ships. 

[reallyitsmema]

Just now, livingonthebeach said:

 

The signage last week when I was there definitely said Solarium Cafe and not Solarium Bistro. It's got very limited offerings -- not like the Solarium Bistro on Oasis Class ships. 

 

Just another IT issue with the app.  We love Solarium Bistro on Oasis and Quantum class ships.

[livingonthebeach]

2 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Just another IT issue with the app.  We love Solarium Bistro on Oasis and Quantum class ships.

 

Yes IT has a lot of tweaking to do on the App. On my recent sailing many times the App was wrong while the paper Cruise Compass (the one we now have to beg, borrow and steal to get) was right.

[Jezo]

Anything else besides food for the ship?  What are other things we should be aware of when we sail and things we might overlook?

[ustasmom]

I just did 20 nights on the Jewel with my 14 year old daughter. There weren't all that many children on board in December but there should be more for Spring Break. We were pretty (very) bored the entire time. But I chose the Jewel because I wanted fewer children onboard.

 

There aren't many bells and whistles for children. It seemed to be more of a "sit in the atrium area, drink, listen to live music" vibe. Formal night definitely brought out the tuxedoes and gowns, though.